Power-operated mechanism for moving doors or the like



ff IKM,

H. RUWNTIIEF.. POWER OPERATED MECHANISIVI FOR MOVING DOORS 0R THE LIKE.

APPIICATION FILED OCT, I6, I9I2. 1,839,671. Patented May11,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Ill I H. ROWNTREE. POWER OPERATED MEcHANlsM FoR MOVING nooRs 0R THELIKE.'V

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, 1912. 1,389,671.

Patented May 11, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Q) I UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD ROWNTREE, OF KENILWOIRTH,

ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR. To NATIONAL IPNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application led October 16, 1912. Serial No. 725,985.

To all whom t may concern: f g Be it known that I, HAROLD BowNTREE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kenilworth, county of Cook,State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention inPower-Operated Mechanism for Moving Doors or the like, of which thefollowing Vis a specification.

This invention relates to power operated mechanism for moving doors orthe like.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction and arrangementof power operated mechanism for moving doors or the like, which issimple and efficient.

A further object is to provide a mechanismof the character referred towhich operates to normally hold the door or other' member moved by it,in one limit of such movement, but which is controllable to shift thedoor or other member toward the limit of its movement in the oppositedirection, whenever desired, which last mentioned movement may bearrested at any desired point, and the door or other member permitted orcaused to return to its normal position.

A further object is to provide a power mechanism and control therefor ofthe character referred to, which may be automatically operated in caseof exigency, as a safety ap liance.

ther objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing and` finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon,-

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a power operated mechanismembodying my invention, and showing the same applied to doors for movingthe same.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse the same on the line 1, 1, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in section, showing a control arrangementfor the power mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line4, 4, Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows. j

line 5, 5,

section of Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the Fig. 4, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 isa detailed view showing the shape of the cam rod employed inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective, considerably enlarged, of the operatingconnections between the pilot valve and the door as shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8, 8, Fig. 7 and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The same part isdesignated by the same Y reference sign wherever 1toccurs throughout the several views.

In the operation of doors or other moving members it is desirable toretain thev same normally in one limit of the movement thereof but topermit or cause the movement thereof toward the opposite limit undersuitable conditions of control, either manual or automatic, whereby thedoor or other movable member may be operated as necessity requires. Itis also desirable to accomplish the movement of the part to be moved bypower mechanism. 4In the accomplishment of these results andparticularly where compressed air is employed as the power medium, it isdesirable to provide a control mechanism in which the use of stuffingboxes for piston rods, or other sources of leak may be eliminated andavoided.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide aconstruction' and arrangement of power actuated mechanism, and controldevices therefor, whichV is simple and efficient, for accomplishingthesecand other desirable results.

I have shown, and will now describe, my invention, as applied to theoperation of doors, but I wish it to be understood that, in its broadestscope, as defined in the claims', my invention is not to be limited orrestricted to such use.

In the drawing 5, 6, designate two doors, shown as of the sliding type,though the particular type. of ldoor is not of consequence. In the caseof sliding doors, selected for illustrating my invention, the doors areshown as being suspended by rollers 7, operating on a track 8, in a wellknown manner. The doors shown, are mounted to slide edgewise toward andfrom each other to closed or open or sections 5, 6, in the form'therein, the rods 18,

obvious, however,

through the remote open ends 21, 22,` delivering position. Referencenumeral 9, Fig. 1, designates generally, the power mechanism employed oroperating the movable doors or members. Any suitable or convenientconnections intermediate the power. mechanism and the parts to be movedmay be employed. A simple arrangement is shown wherein the outer edgesof the door sections are slidably engaged as at 14, 15, by levers 10,11, respectlvely, which are pivotally carried on brackets 12, 13, andhaving such relation that when the power mechanism is operated i in onedirection the movable members, a's 5, 6, are shifted 1n unison awayfrom4 each other, and when said power mechanism-is operated in the otherdirection said members are shifted in unison toward-each other. Wheredoors or door sections are the movable members, as in the case shown inthe drawing, the operation of the power mechanism in one directionthrough the rock levers 10, 11, causes the ldoor sections to move intoclosed or open position as the case may be.

In the construction shown inthe drawing as illustrative of my invention,lthe power mechanism employed for effecting the door operations is ofthe pneumatic type, and consists of two cylinders 14, 15, having thevpistons 16, 17, operating respectively 19 of said pistons extending inopposite directions from each other, in the particular form shown. It isthat said cylinders may have any desired relation and arrangement solong as in their respective working strokes said pistons operate againsteach other. The arrangement of cylinders shown wherein they are in linewitheach other is very simple and convenient, 'and they occup-comparatively little space, a feature whichI is desirableon accountofthe fact that fr quently the space available for the installation islimited. Where the cylinders are in line with each other the workingfaces of the pistons are presented toward each other, as shown, and thepiston rods 18, 19, wor

of the cylinders. At their proximate ends the cylinders are carried in asupport 20, having ports from a closed valve chest or chamber 23,respectively into the proximate closed ends of 'the cylinders. hesupport is also provided with an exhaust port 24, communicating with asuitable exhausth connection, not shown. The ports 21, 22 and 24,terminate within the chamber or chest 23,'on the face of a portion ofthe support 20, which forms a valve seat and with which the valve 25,coperates. This valve on its seating face, is provided with a passage 26adapted to bring the morts 21 and 24, into communication with each otherwhen the valve 25 is shifted into one position, while at the saine timeleaving or the other, operating the port 22 in free communication withthel chest or chamber 23, and to bring the ports and at the same timeleaving port 21 in free communication with the chamber or incommunication through pipe or other connection 27, withany suitable orconvenient source of pressure medium supply.

The valve 25, is carried by the rod 28, of a piston 29, arranged tooperate in a cylinder 30, said rod 'being guided, if desired, in anysuitable manner, as, for instance, by having its end 51 operating in aguide hand 31. The piston 29, forms in effect, a diaphragm separatingthe'chamber 23 from the cylinder 30, said cylinder being otherwiseclosed except for a port A32, leading therefrom, on one side of thepiston or diaphragm 29, into a small chamber 33, which communicatesthrough a passage 34 with valve chest 23, and the opposite side of thepiston or diaphragm 29. The `small chamber .33, also communicates withthe chest 23. The valve chamber or chest 23, is

30 under conditions ofl operation hereinafter to be described. Such anexhaust opening is afforded by the passage 35. Within the small chamber33, is arranged a pilot valve 36 with a very slight range of movement,and udesigned tou control the passage 34 and the exhaust opening 35. 1In the particular form shown to illustrate this feature of `my inventionthe pilot valve 36, is' sha ed at its ends to seat against valve seats 338, respectively formed at the terminations of the passages 35, 34, sothat when in one limit of its movement the pilot valve seats againstseat 37, and in the other limit it seats against the seat 38.

The o eration of the apparatus so far describe is as follows:

With the parts in the relative positions shown, the main valve 25 is inposition to uncover port 21, thereby admitting pressure medium tocylinder 14, and to bring ports 22 and 24 into .communication with eachother, thereby opening cylinder 15, to exhaust. Under this condition thepiston 16 is held by the pressure medium in the limit I of its workingstroke, and hence the parts to be moved, as for instance, the doorsections 5, 6, are held, say, in closed position.

The main valve 25, is held in this `position by the tension of a spring39, arranged in cylinder 30, to bear against the piston or diaphragm 29.Since, in the positions of the parts shown, the pilot valve 36, isseatedr and the pressure contained in said cylinderl is permitted toexhaust to the atmosphere. Under these conditions'the pressure mediumacts only against that face of the piston or 39, shifts the piston ordiaphragm 29 intol the cylinder 30, thereby shifting the main diaphragm`29, which is presented to the interior of the main valve chest 23. Thispressure overcoming the tension of spring valve 25, into position touncover port 22 and to bring ports 21 and 24 into communication witheach other. This operation opensl cylinder 14 to exhaust and permitssupply of operating medium to cylinder 15. Thereupon piston 17,vaccomplishes its power stroke, and the parts to be moved,

say, for instance, the door sections 5, 6 are shifted or moved to theiropen position. This condition will continue until the pilot valve 36, isagain shifted intoposition to close exhaust passage 35, and opencommunication-between the main valve chest 23 and the cylinder 30,through passage 34, chamber 33 and port 32, whereupon there is again anequalization of pressure "on opposite siles of piston 29, and hence thespring 39, again becomes effective to shift the piston 29, and with ittherod 28 and valve 25,

as above explained, back into their initial positions, whereby the doorswill be closed and will remain closed, being held in that position o bythe power medium acting against the piston 16,-until the pilot valve 36,is again shifted into position to close passage 34, and to open exhaustpassage 37, when the cycle of operation above pointed out is repeated.

I will now describe means, inI accordance with the principles of minvention .for controlling the operation o the pilot valve 36. It isobviolis that the control of this valve ma be accomplished in manyspecifically di erent w\ays. In the first place it is desirable tocontrol the movements of the pilot valve in such a manner that the partsto be moved, such, for instance, as doors, may be opened and closed atwill. It is also desirable that the pilot valve be moved automaticallyas in the case of doors, in order to automatically cause the opening ofthe doors when, in closing, they encounter an obstruction, such as thearm, foot or. other part of a passenger or 'person passing through thedoorway controlled by such doors, in order to prevent accident or injuryto such person or passenger. In accordance with m invention I propose toprovide means orr accomplishing both methods of control of the pilotvalve. In describing .the control of the pilot valve and in claimingLthe inventive features contained therein,

will employ the term manual operation` or control of the pilot valve,intending to include dby such expression both the electrical arrangementshown in Fig. 3 and the collapsible shoe control arrangement shown inFig. 1, both of which arrangements I will now describe.

Asillustrative of means for effecting` the manual control of the valve Ihave shown said valve as acted upon by a rod 40, which vis arranged toextend into line with and to be engaged or to normally bear against theendu of the core 41, of a solenoid 42, being normally held .thereagainstby the pressure of the pressure medium in the main valve chest 23,acting against the end face 43, of the pilot valve.u This not onlynormally holds the rod 40, endwise against the core 41, bout also holdsthe valve 36, seated against seat 37, thereby opening passage 34 tocylind'er 30, and permitting spring 39, to hold the main valve 25, intheposition thereof. as shown in the drawing. The circuit of thesolenoid 42, may be controlled in `any suit-u able or convenient manner4so that *when the solenoid coils are 'energized the core 41,

' thereof engages the end of rod 40,-and shiftsy the pilot valve intoposition to .close passage 34, and to open passage 35 and to holdit inthat position so long as the circuit of theV solenoid remains closed.The instant this circuit is opened the pressure medium actingv againstthe face 43, of the pilot valve shifts said valve, and with it thesolenoid core 41, back into their initial or normal positions. A simpleillustrative arrangement for controlling the circuit of thel solenoid 42is shown comprising a switch'44, arranged in the circuit leads to thesolenoid and a suitable source of current therefor as indicated at 45. Itis obvious that the switch 44, may be operated or controlled in anysuitable or convenient manner or fron1v any convenient point.

Many accomplishing the automatic operation or movement of the pilotvalve. A simple arrangement is shown as applied to the operation ofdoors wlierein the meeting edges of the door sections are equipped withmovable. shoes,l @which yield or telescope onto the doors in case theyencounter an obstruction during the closing movement of the. doors. Anysuitable arrangement of this nature may be employed. doors or sections5, 6, are provided with telescoping or yielding shoes 46, mounted toyield or telescope upon their respective section when an obstruction isencountered.

different ways may be employed for' In the form shown, the

.lever 55, any rotative movement imparted to said rod will cause acorresponding rocking movement to the lever. The shoe 46 telescopicallymounted at the edge of the door is normally held yieldingly distendedand connected thereto is a rod 56, which moves with it. The rod 56 isconnected to the rod orbar 47. Also connected to the door is an arm 58,having a cam shaped portion orv twist in a portion thereof which isdesigned to pass through a guide 59 carried b a bar 47. When the bar 47is moved in epend` ently of the door, as, for instance, when the shoe 46yields telescopically onto the door, the cam portion of bar 58, causesaxial rotation of the bar 47. This imparts rocking movement to lever 55,which is suitably connected to a lever 50, which when rocked engages therod of the pilot valve and shifts the same.' The yielding or telescopingmovement of the shoe upon the door which car ries it causes an endwisemovement of the rod or bar 47, relative to the door and hence alsorelatively to arm 58, thereby causing the cam portion or twist of bar 58to effect a rocking movement of the lever 50 and, a consequent actuationof the rod 40, and the pilot valve 36, and a consequent arrest andreversal of the movement of the door or other part being moved.

The movements of the main valve 25, in one direction or the other tocause ittto occupy one or the other of its two operating positions maybe limited or stopped in any suitable or convenient manner. A. simplearrangement is shown wherein the end portion 51, of rod 28, engages theend wall of the guide 31, to limit the movement' thereof in onedirection, the movement of said rod in the opposite direction beinglimited by the piston 29, being brought up against a stop 52, carried bythe endwall ofthe cylinder 30. This stop 52, may also serve as a supportto hold the spring 39 in place.

The movements of the motor pistons 16,

i 17, may be stopped by one or the other of said pistons coming upagainst the endwall of the support 20.

The piston rods 18, 19, are connected to move together. This may beaccomplished in any suitable. way, as for instance, by means of a bar orlink 70, see Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the operating Y .lever 10 is hingedintermediate its ends to bracket 12, and has slidin connection at oneend to the member 5 to e moved, while the power device is connected tothe other end of said lever. The lever 11, on the other hand, isslidingl connected at one end to the member 6 to e moved and is pivotedat its other end to the bracket 13, and the power mechanism is connectedto said lever intermediate its ends. With this arrangement itresultsthat when the power mechanism is operated in one direction themembers 5, 6, move simultaneously away from each other, and when saidpower mechanism movesin the opposite direction said members movesimultaneously toward each other.

t, The operation ofthe apparatus will be fully understood from theforegoing description in connection with the drawing.

It will' be seen that` the arrangement shown and described is not onlysimple'and efficient but that the valve operation and control iseffected without the necessity of providing stuffing boxes. It will alsobe seen that a safety arrangement is provided which effects theautomatic arrest and reversal of the door operating motor in case thedoors,- in closing encounter an obstruction, thereby providing againstinjury or accident by reason of or resulting from the doors closing uponpersons or passengers passing through the doorway controlled by thedoors. Y i

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new anduseful and of mly own invention and desire to secure by etters Patentis,

1`. In an apparatus of the class described, a motor, and means forcontrolling the supply and exhaust of operating medium to and from themotor, including a valve, a single piston, and piston rod, for operatingthe valve, a pilot valve to control the supply of operating medium toone side of the piston and the exhaust of pressure from that side of thepiston, means for maintaining a constant supply of fluid pressure in theopposite side of said piston, means effective to hold the valve in oneextreme position when the pressure is equalized on opposite sides ofsaid piston, and means manually controlled lfor controlling 'said pilotvalve.

2. In an apparatus of the'class described, a motor, and means forcontrolling the operation of the motor, including a main valve forlsupplyingy fluid pressure to and exhausting the same from `said motor, asingle piston, and piston rodfor operating said valve, meansmechanically actuating said piston for normally holding the valve in oneposition to maintain the motor at one limit of its operation, a pilotvalve for controlling the valve operating means, and manually controlledmeans for controlling. the pilot valve.

- 3. The combination with a motor, a valve for supplying fluid pressureto and exhausting the Same from said motor for controlling the motormovements, fluid pressure actuated means for moving the valve, saidmeans normally operating to maintain the valve in an initial position topermit the motor to stand at one limit of its action, a pilot valve forcontrolling the valveoperat ing means, and manually controlled means foroperating the 7pilot valve.

4. The combination with a motor, and a valve for supplying pressure toand exhausting the same from said motor for controlling the motormovements, of fluid pressure actuated means for moving the valve, saidmeans operating to normally maintain the valve in an initial position topermit the motor to stand at one limit of its action, a pilot valve forcontrolling said valve operating means, means manually controlled foroperating the pilot valve, and independent electricallyoperated mean lfor operating the pilot valve.

5. In a motor mechanism, a motor, a

main valve for supplying fluid pressure to and exhausting the same fromsaid motor for controlling the operation thereof, a pilot valve forcontrolling the operation of the main valve, electrically controlledmeans i for operating the pilot valve in its normal operation, andmechanically actuated means for operating the pilot valve. y

6. In a motor mechanism, a motor, a valve for supplying fluid pressureto and exhausting the same from said motor for controlling the operationthereof, a cylinder inclosing said valve, a singleA piston operating insaid cylinder, and connected to said valve, a pilot valve forcontrolling the operation of the piston, ntrolled means for opratingthepilot valve.

7. In a motor mechanism, a motor, a

Y valve for supplying fluid pressure to and exhausting the same fromsaid motor for controlling the operation thereof, a cylin der, a singlepiston operating therein, a pilot valve the piston, electricallycontrolled meansv for F a motor, and means and manually conforcontrolling the operationA of' operating the pilot valve in the normaloperation thereof, and independent means for operating the pilot valve.

8. A pneumatic motor having a valve for controlling the same, a chestinclosing said valve and communicating with a sourceof pressure supply,a cylinder, a single piston operating therein and connected to thevalve, an exhaust port for said cylinder, a passage intermediate saidcylinder and valve chest, al pilot valve for controlling said exhaustport and passage whereby when either said passage or said exhaust portis opened the other is closed and manually operated means for operatingsaid pilot valve.

9. In an apparatus of the class described,

for controlling the supplyD and exhaust of operating medium to and fromthe -motor, including a main valve, a-single piston, operating thevalve, a passage for establishing communication to opposite sides ofsaid piston, a pilot passage, a spring for maintaining said piston atone limit of its movement, and manu ally operated means for shifting thepilot valve to cause the piston controlling the Valve to shift itsposition.

10. The combination with control valve therefor., of a movable piston\connected to the valve to operate it, said piston being open topressure supply on one side thereof, a spring acting against and pistonrod fory valve for controlling said a motor and a u the opposite side ofsaid piston, a pilot valve forcontrolling the supply of pressure mediumto the spring engaged side of the Witnesses:

W. A. DARBY, lS. E. DARBY,

